Eli, still bound in chains, slowly turned her head—
her tired eyes falling on the wolf,
chained to the wall in silence.
All around them, other captives sat in the gloom—
some from Rock City,
others from places unknown.
A few whispered to each other in trembling voices,
but the sound always faded, swallowed by fear.
The air was thick, heavy with despair.
A sense of hopelessness clung to every breath,
as if no one in that dungeon
knew what the next day would bring—
or if they'd even live to see it.
Beside her, a broken pipe dripped filthy water—
each drop echoing through the darkness,
the only sound that dared exist
amid the silence and despair
of the imprisoned souls.
At the far end of the dungeon, two fiery torches faintly light the dark cell.
Between them stands a heavy, rusted iron door.
From behind the heavy door, the sound of footsteps echoed—slow, heavy, deliberate—each one drawing closer to the cell, shaking the silence with their weight.
The footsteps stopped—suddenly—right outside the door.
Then came a sound that froze the blood—
something heavy dragging across the floor.
The iron door creaked open,
its scream splitting the air like tearing metal,
so loud it felt as if it could shatter eardrums.
Eli squeezed her eyes shut,
trying to steady herself against the deafening roar
as the door swung inward.
Through the light of the torches,
the Marshal stepped into the cell—
and behind him, two Black Wolves followed,
obedient and silent,
like leashed beasts waiting for the kill.
He stood in silence.
His single green eye swept slowly across the cell,
studying every chained creature,
searching for someone.
Then—his gaze shifted.
From the shadows, he found the bound wolf.
Ignoring all the others,
the Marshal walked toward him, calm and deliberate,
his boots echoing against the stone.
He stopped in front of the wolf,
motionless for a brief, chilling moment—
and then, without warning,
drove his fist hard into the wolf's stomach.
The sound was dull, heavy—
like striking something lifeless.
The wolf didn't scream, didn't even groan.
He just hung there,
silent… as if he'd already died long ago.
The Marshal spat at the wolf's feet, his voice erupting with fury.
Marshal:
"Coward… useless traitor!"
The Marshal turned, ready to leave the cell with his two Black Wolves.
As he passed by Eli, she lifted her gaze.
Her eyes locked on the papyrus hanging from his belt like a trophy.
Without fear—her voice sharp with mockery—she spoke:
Eli:
"All this… for a piece of paper? You must be so proud of yourself.
Or maybe… just pathetic."
One of the Black Wolves snarled, raising his hand to strike her across the face—
but before the blow could land, the Marshal caught his wrist,
gripping it tightly,
The wolf froze, eyes wide in confusion.
The Marshal said nothing.
He just stared at him—
that cold, emotionless green eye burning through the silence.
The wolf slowly lowered his hand.
Silence followed—heavy, suffocating.
The only sounds that remained
were the crackling of the torches
and the steady drip of water
falling from the broken pipe in the corner.
The Marshal walked toward the entrance of the cell, each step echoing against the stone.
Behind him, the two Black Wolves followed in silence, their shadows stretching across the floor.
As he stepped through the doorway,
the heavy iron door swung shut once more—
slamming with the same deafening roar
that made the walls tremble.
As the heavy door slammed shut,
the chained wolf drew in a deep, ragged breath—
then suddenly jerked his arms,
the sound of snapping iron echoing through the cell.
The chains shattered, scattering across the stone floor.
The wolf collapsed to his knees,
breathing heavily, shoulders rising and falling with each gasp.
For a few moments, he stayed there—silent, trembling.
Eli watched him in shock,
her wide eyes locked on the mysterious figure in the dark.
The wolf rose to his feet, a low chuckle rumbling from his chest.
He scratched the back of his head, then his arms—casual, almost playful—
as if breaking free from chains was nothing.
He tilted his head from side to side, stretching his neck,
then rolled his shoulders and arms, the sound of cracking joints echoing softly
He turned his gaze toward Eli and began walking her way,
hands resting lazily behind his head,
moving through the rows of imprisoned animals as if he owned the place.
As he drew closer, Eli froze—terror tightening every breath.
The mysterious wolf stopped in front of her,
his shadow falling over her trembling form.
He raised his hand—slowly.
Eli flinched, turning her head away, eyes squeezed shut.
But instead of pain…
a sharp clang echoed through the cell—
in one swift motion, the wolf shattered the chains
around her wrists and ankles.
Eli rose to her feet, rubbing her wrists where the chains had bitten into her skin.
The wolf watched her for a moment, then stepped toward the cell door.
His voice was cold, flat as steel.
Wolf:
"If you want out of here—follow me."
Eli glanced around at the chained animals, their faces hollow with desperate hope, waiting for someone to save them.
Eli:
"And the others?"
The wolf looked at them once, unreadable.
Wolf:
"We can't do anything for them. If we free everyone, they'll make noise—create panic—and they'll get us all caught.
I'm not risking being captured again."
The wolf walked up to the cell door and kicked it hard—metal rang through the dungeon.
Eli:
"What the hell are you doing!?"
Without answering, the wolf reached up and snuffed out the torches, plunging the cell into shadow.
Then, with effortless motion, he climbed up the wall above the door.
From the hallway came the sound of boots—two Black Wolves rushing toward the cell.
The door burst open, slamming against the stone.
Black Wolf Guard:
"What's going on in here?! What was that noise—"
Before they could finish, the wolf dropped down from above—
landing silently behind them.
Wolf:
"Evening."
The guards turned—
only to meet two sharp punches, lightning-fast and brutal.
Both collapsed instantly, unconscious before they hit the ground.
The wolf smirked, a low chuckle rumbling from his chest.
Wolf
"Wow. Didn't see that coming
The wolf turned to Eli.
From deep within the corridor, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed—slow, steady, getting closer.
Wolf:
"You staying here… or coming with me?"
Eli looked back—at the chained, hopeless faces staring after her.
Her voice came out as a trembling whisper.
Eli:
"…I'm sorry."
Then she ran—straight toward the wolf.
Together, they slipped out of the cell,
slamming the door behind them and darting down the long stone corridor.
Torches burned along the walls,
casting flickering light over rows of other cells
as their footsteps echoed through the dungeon.
As they ran down the corridor,
they came upon a gaping hole in the wall—
the stench of sewage rolling out like a wave.
Eli:
"There's no way I'm going in there!"
From behind, the sound of boots echoed—
a patrol of Black Wolves closing in fast.
Wolf:
"Your choice."
Eli froze, torn for a heartbeat—
but the wolf didn't wait.
He shoved her forward, sending her tumbling into the hole.
Eli (screaming):
"NOOOO—!"
Without hesitation, the wolf jumped in after her,
vanishing into the darkness below
Eli burst out from a hole behind the old fortress inside forest, crashing into a small lake below.
She surfaced with a gasp, water streaming down her face, her ears twitching as she took a deep, shaky breath of air.
Eli:
"...I swear, if I smell like this forever—he's dead."
A moment later, the mysterious wolf shot out from the same hole,
crashing into the lake behind her with a loud splash that echoed through the night.
Eli spun around, startled—
the wolf's head emerged from the water, droplets sliding off his fur as he waded toward the shore.
The lifted his gaze to the sky—
the moon hung high above, pale and distant,
its light glinting in his cold orange eyes.
A faint breeze stirred his fur as he stood silent for a moment,
his expression unreadable beneath the moonlight.
Wolf:
"Whoo… that was refreshing!"
Eli (furious):
"Refreshing?! You threw me into a hole where the Black Wolves pee, you idiot
The wolf shot her a lazy, mocking glance, his tone calm and teasing.
Wolf:
"Did you have a better plan? No?
Then I don't really see the point in whining."
Eli turned toward the massive stone wall behind the fortress, her eyes narrowing.
Eli:
"What… what is that?"
Wolf (deadpan):
"That? That's a toilet drain."
Eli stared at him, confusion written all over her face.
Eli:
"Toilet…?"
Wolf (impatiently):
"I don't have time to explain what that is. Just—come on, let's get out of here."
Eli:
"Where are we even going?"
Wolf (shrugging):
"I don't know… maybe somewhere far from this mess.
Maybe… the Golden Jungle."
Wolf:
"Yeah… I'm heading there. Might not be paradise, but at least we'll be far from all this chaos."
Eli turned toward the fortress, anger tightening her jaw.
Eli:
"And what about all those animals? What's going to happen to them?"
Wolf (coldly):
"Most'll probably be sold off as slaves… the rest, sold as food."
Eli (furious):
"We have to help them—now!"
Wolf (shrugging):
"Who cares? Not my problem. It's theirs."
Eli's face flushed red, fury burning in her eyes.
Eli:
"You can't be that heartless! I thought you were different from them…
but you're just the same."
She turned away, her voice trembling with determination.
Eli:
"I'll go on my own."
Wolf (startled, his voice trembling):
"You're insane!"
Eli ignored him, claws digging into the stone wall as she began to climb toward the top.
Wolf (exasperated):
"No—scratch that… you're a full-on psychopath!"
Eli climbed higher and higher, her claws scraping against the stone until she reached the top—
pulling herself up onto the battlements.
reached the top and looked down at the fortress below.
Before her stretched a vast circular courtyard, and at its front—a massive iron gate gleaming under the firelight.
Inside the walls, thousands of Black Wolves roared with drunken joy.
Fires burned high; they sang, danced, smoked, and tore into slabs of meat.
And amid that chaos, half-hidden beneath layers of tarps and cloth, stood the Black Redemption—silent, monstrous.
Behind her, footsteps echoed.
The wolf appeared, calm as ever.
Eli (sharply):
"What do you want? Why don't you just run off to your 'Golden Jungle,' like you said?"
Wolf (smirking):
"Eh… changed my mind. Can't really leave a little kitty all alone, can I?"
Eli (disgusted):
"Oh great. You're romantic now? I'm gonna puke."
Two Bloodied Fists hauled away the tarps from the Black Redemption—
the covers tore free, revealing a massive, roaring cannon mounted like a beast.
Eli stared, stunned.
Eli:
"That cannon—"
Wolf (cold, flat):
"You don't need me to explain. I was on the front lines when they leveled Rock City… weren't you there?"
Eli's jaw tightened, anger flashing in her eyes.
Eli:
"We have to destroy it."
A booming voice cut through the crowd—one of the Black Wolves snarled, stepping up above the others.
Black Wolf (bellowing):
"READY THE CANNON! IT'S TIME TO TAKE FOREST CITY!"
The wolf tilted his head, confusion flashing across his face.
Wolf:
"Forest City? …Interesting. So they finally found it.
Anyway, not our problem. Let's get out of here—
we've stayed too long already."
Eli (shocked):
"Forest City?! That's where Las is—
and my friends, Piu, Vroom, and Skav!"
Wolf (deadpan):
"Las? Skav? Piu? Vroom?
Who the hell are those idiots?"
Eli delivers a swift kick to his shin.
The wolf grabs his leg, hopping on one foot with a cartoonish yelp.
Wolf (wincing):
"Are you stupid or something?!"
Eli (cold, urgent):
"We have to destroy that cannon before it leaves the castle and heads for the city."
Wolf (shrugging):
"Do whatever you want. I'm not taking part in that plan."
Eli steels herself and moves to climb down the battlements toward the cannon.
Wolf (calling after her):
"Wait — you dumb cat… I've got an idea."
Eli turns, scoffs with a sarcastic laugh.
Eli:
"Oh? Do tell, genius."
Continue....